We chat to Outset Bristol about the issue of entrepreneurialism in the City

by Startacus Admin

Last month we featured Belfast as our ‘Startup City’ and found that the local entrepreneurial landscape was becoming quite dominated by tech businesses. From your experience with Outset and the city more generally is there one particular area in which you think that Bristol is punching above its weight?

As with Belfast there is some focus on tech businesses here in Bristol, with these businesses catered for by SETsquared, the Engine Shed hub, and incubators like WebStart Bristol. But I wouldn’t say they are dominating the local entrepreneurial landscape. There is strong growth in professional, scientific and technical activities, and transport and communications.Food and drink also plays a key part in this local startup scene, with Bristol making waves nationally as a vibrant and creative food city, fuelled by a strong creative, pop-up, street food and DIY culture. New food and drink businesses are popping all the time, with local chefs, food producers and growers, brewers and cider-makers, food writers and bloggers all exhibiting great entrepreneurial spirit.

The folks of Belfast were really keen to share with us why they think their city is a great place to start a business. Do you think that Bristol is a good place to start a business if so why? and if not, why not?

Bristol is a great place to start a business. It’s an entrepreneurial city with a lot of people who are passionate about green issues and improving their quality of life. Self-employment is key to this, people want the flexibility it gives, and relish the opportunity it provides to fully utilise their expertise, skills and abilities for their own benefit and fulfillment.

Are there any upcoming events that you would like to highlight?

If you are about to launch a new business or have been trading for less than 12 months you could benefit from attending our free workshop on how to apply for a start up loan and use it to help grow your business.

The workshop will be held at the Outset Bristol office at Royal Oak House on Thursday 19th June from 2pm. Rob Guy, Start Up Loan Manager for Outset Finance, who will deliver the workshop, said: “The purpose of this event is to outline how useful a loan can be in those crucial early stages. It will also help dispel some of the myths surrounding business loans and hopefully give people more confidence in applying for them.”

Attendees will be given practical advice on applying for a low cost loan through Outset Finance, as well as an overview of the ways in which Outset Bristol can support them in spending funds wisely and trading profitably but sustainably.

For more information about the Start Up Loans Workshop or to book a place, visit our website or call 0800 032 2903.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us Matt.

If you are interested in all things Bristolian then why not check out some of the stuff we have featured so far in the Bristol Startup Month? Or why not explore Belfast and all its entrepreneurial goings on?

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Published on: 5th June 2014